My Boyhood and Youth 



attacks as influenza. He then thought it possi- 

 ble that Plutarch might be turned to account 

 on the food question by revealing what those 

 old Greeks and Romans ate to make them 

 strong; and so at last we gained our glori- 

 ous Plutarch. Dick's "Christian Philosopher/' 

 which I borrowed from a neighbor, I thought 

 I might venture to read in the open, trusting 

 that the word "Christian" would be proof 

 against its cautious condemnation. But father 

 balked at the word "Philosopher," and quoted 

 from the Bible a verse which spoke of "phil- 

 osophy falsely so-called." I then ventured to 

 speak in defense of the book, arguing that we 

 could not do without at least a little of the most 

 useful kinds of philosophy. 



"Yes, we can," he said with enthusiasm, 

 "the Bible is the only book human beings can 

 possibly require throughout all the journey 

 from earth to heaven." 



"But how," I contended, "can we find the 

 way to heaven without the Bible, and how 

 after we grow old can we read the Bible with- 

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